crime

Man accused of homeless woman's murder kills himself while out on bail

13 Comments

A 48-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of killing a 64-year-old homeless woman in Tokyo in 2020, has died in an apparent suicide.

According to police, the body of Kazuhito Yoshida was found on the street below an apartment building near his home on Friday morning, Kyodo News reported. Police said Saturday he had apparently jumped from the building. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Yoshida had been out on bail after having been arrested on suspicion of killing Misako Obayashi, a homeless woman, while she sat on a bench at a bus stop in Shibuya Ward at around 4 a.m. on Nov 16, 2020. Obayashi, who only had eight yen on her, was found collapsed on the ground, bleeding from a head injury, by a passerby at 5 a.m. near an intersection about 400 meters from Sasazuka Station.

Yoshida showed up with his mother at a koban (police box) on Nov 21, 2020, and told police he had attacked the woman. Street surveillance camera footage showed a man hitting Obayashi, who appeared to be asleep, with a shopping bag.

Yoshida was indicted in December 2020. He was released on bail in March this year ahead of his trial which was scheduled to begin on May 17.

On Saturday, Yoshida’s relatives told media that he had been unstable recently, concerned about the trial and the trouble it would cause them.

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13 Comments
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Released on bail for murder? Oh, it was a homeless person....... That explains why.

So he was concerned about causing trouble for his relatives and jumped. I have sympathy for Ms Obayashi but my thoughts for Yoshida would be ruled "offensive or vulgar by our moderators.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Good riddance. Now this parasite is gone for eternity.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

Just recently appearing unstable? I think that ship sailed long ago.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Yoshida was indicted in December 2020. He was released on bail in March this year ahead of his trial which was scheduled to begin on May 17.

So, he was taken into custody in Dec 2020 and released on bail in Mar 2022, 15 months later?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

15 months of interrogation without lawyer in solitary confinement.

Probably killed himself out of despair not having a chance to prove his innocence.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

Yoshida showed up with his mother at a koban

48 year old showing up with his mother. Enough said.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Way too many violent acts going on in Japan in recent years that one has to wonder, what is it that causes them to take the lives of others and then your own when you could be sitting back with a nice beer watching your favorite movie? Decisions. Make the right one.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

I don't get it .... out on bail for a murder. Obayashi have the right to be treated as human if not in her life al least after her death.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Why would anyone kill a homeless person and woman at that? These people are the most vulnerable and by and large, harmless. A lot of them suffer mental problems but that’s no excuse to kill them because they’re sleeping on a bench.

There is kind of like a mini shanti town behind sunshine city in Ikebukuro where homeless people put up their tents. I have too many old jackets and winter wear that I never use. I wouldn’t get much if I sold them and it’s a waste to throw them out so every winter I go and hand out my things to any homeless person who wants them. These people deserve empathy, not murder.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

so potential killer was free outside?

what a "nice action" of police,they are lucky that he kill himself only...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

May Obayashi rest in peace!

There are alot of expats helping out the homeless in Tokyo. If anyone interested, you can read up on the below

https://metropolisjapan.com/tokyos-homeless/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

WOW!! So he didn't think of killing himself first before killing the poor women! You would think he would have thought about the repercussions of his crime. He was unstable recently???? If you can't do the time don't do the crime! Perhaps he just gave his family more grief.

On Saturday, Yoshida’s relatives told media that he had been unstable recently, concerned about the trial and the trouble it would cause them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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